差

cī
#731 most
frequent character
used in 參差|参差[cen1ci1]

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

差 chā first showed a left hand 左 picking a tree, meaning 'to choose'. 左 also gives the sound, though the match is loose, and the tree shape has since worn away. From 'to choose' came 'difference, lack', 'bad', 'to send someone', and 'to vary'.

Drawn as: a left hand; a tree

差 as a component in other characters

sound7 characters
搓磋嗟槎鹾嵯瘥
picture1 character
蹉

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